Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area
New York Times: Trump plans to meet with Putin as soon as next week

US imposes sanctions on ICC judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Jun 2025 07:16
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The Trump administration imposes sanctions on four ICC judges, as Netanyahu praises the move.

Listen
  • x
  • US imposes sanctions on ICC judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant.
    Presiding judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc enters the courtroom where Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared by video link before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 14, 2025. (AP)

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), including two who were involved in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes committed in Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures, which bar the judges from entering the US and freeze any assets under US jurisdiction, sanctions typically used against US adversaries, not jurists.

Washington doubles down on Israeli impunity

Rubio defended the decision by vowing to “protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and any other U.S. ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC.” The remarks signal an escalation in Washington’s campaign to shield Israeli leaders from accountability for crimes committed during their ongoing assault on Gaza.

Netanyahu praised the decision, thanking President Donald Trump and Rubio for "standing up for the right of Israel," despite growing international consensus that "Israel’s" conduct in Gaza may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Read more: ICC judges issue gag order on arrest warrants in Israeli war crimes

Related News

Rubio strips 8 Brazilian judges of US visa amid Bolsonaro coup trial

Cuba says new US sanctions will not 'bend the will of the people'

ICC defends its mandate amid growing pressure

Meanwhile, the ICC condemned the sanctions, calling them “a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution.” The court, based in The Hague, operates under a mandate ratified by 125 State Parties, including many key US allies.

The sanctioned judges, Beti Hohler (Slovenia), Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), and Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), were involved in proceedings related to both the war on Gaza and US war crimes in Afghanistan.

Read more: 'Israel' asks ICC to withdraw arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

Human rights groups slam 'brazen' US threat

Human Rights Watch condemned the sanctions as an attempt to “deter the ICC from seeking accountability amid grave crimes committed in Israel and Palestine,” particularly as Israeli atrocities in Gaza mount, with direct US support.

The Gaza investigation resulted in arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and former Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant. The court said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe the two were criminally responsible for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Read more: ICC weighing arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over West Bank: WSJ

US and 'Israel': Outside the ICC, but not beyond its reach

Although neither the United States nor "Israel" are parties to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestine, a State Party since 2015. The court also holds jurisdiction over any crimes committed on the territory of member states or by their nationals.

Former US President Joe Biden’s administration had adopted a more cooperative tone toward the ICC, particularly during its investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Under Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US lifted Trump-era sanctions on court officials and expressed support for international justice on a selective, case-by-case basis. However, this posture shifted dramatically once the court turned its attention to Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The same administration that welcomed the ICC’s pursuit of accountability in Russia echoed the rhetoric of delegitimization when similar standards are applied to its ally, "Israel".

Read more: European Union warns sanctions on ICC threaten International Justice

  • Marco Rubio
  • United States
  • The Hague
  • International Criminal Court
  • ICC
  • Washington
  • Israel
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, centre, leads a Cabinet meeting which is supposed to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, August 7, 2025 (Lebanese Presidency press office)
Politics

Hezbollah, Amal ministers walk out of cabinet over US disarmament plot

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, line up as they wait to enter Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Politics

Only 188 of 800 promised aid trucks entered Gaza: Euractiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India listens to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil despite partnership

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi during a speech in Sanaa, Yemen, August 7, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)\
Politics

Al-Houthi slams Gaza blockade, warns against disarmament, aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS